Summit Police Offer Back to School Safety Tips

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit students are heading back to school on Thursday and the Summit Police Department is urging parents to teach their children some simple safety tips.

Children will be walking to and from school, many for the first time, and drivers also have a responsibility to be especially careful during this busy time of the year, police report.

"Hundreds of children are killed each year in collisions with motor vehicles and thousands more are severely injured," said Summit Police Lt. David Richel.

To help protect children, Richel urges parents and adults to educate students with the following pedestrian safety tips:

• Look all ways before crossing the street,
• Cross only at corners and crosswalks,
• Obey police officers, school crossing guards and traffic signals,
• Watch for turning cars,
• Be especially alert in bad weather,
• Do not run or play near traffic and roadways,
• Walk in groups to and from school,
• If you see something, say something to an adult.

Summit Police officers will be visible in all Summit school districts to enforce parking and speeding issues.

Parents should leave their homes earlier so that there is time to safely drop or pick up their children without the “rush” to get them there.

"All Summit schools are in residential areas. Drive in these areas as if they were your own neighborhood and respect other drivers. With all of this in mind, we can have a wonderful, safe school year!" Richel said.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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